ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Science & Technology
New genus of treeshrew from Ramnagar in Jammu and Kashmir can provide a precise age estimate for the locality
Scientists have spotted fossils of a small mammal resembling squirrels called treeshrew belonging to a new genus and species from Ramnagar in Jammu and Kashmir.
This treeshrew currently represents the oldest record of fossil tupaiids in the Siwaliks, extending their time range by 2.5–4.0 Million Years in the region and can help provide a more precise age estimate for this Ramnagar locality lying in the Udhampur District .
Siwalik sediments document the evolution of many mammalian groups from the middle Miocene through Pleistocene including treeshrews, hedgehogs, and other small mammals. Treeshrews, in particular, are very rare elements of the fossil record, with only a few species known throughout the entire Cenozoic era.
Scientists from the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology , an autonomous institute of Department of Science and Technology  found fossils of the new genus and species of treeshrew  from the middle Miocene  site of Ramnagar in Jammu and Kashmir.
Dietary analyses suggest that the new tupaiid was probably adapted for a less mechanically challenging or more fruit eating diet compared to other extant and fossil tupaiids. In addition, new hedgehog and rodent specimens have been described from this same fossil locality. The murine rodents are of particular importance, because different species and dental features are well-known to be time sensitive, as has been documented throughout a continuous, time-controlled Siwalik sequence on the Potwar Plateau of Pakistan. Therefore, the identification of these time sensitive dental features and species in the current collection help to provide a more precise age estimate for this Ramnagar locality as between 12.7-11.6 Million Years.
This work was carried out by Dr. Ramesh Kumar Sehgal , Dr. Ningthoujam Premjit Singh  and Mr. Abhishek Pratap Singh from Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, India in association with researches from Panjab University Chandigarh ; Hunter College of the City University of New York, USA ; University of Southern California, Los Angeles ; Arizona State University, USA ; American Museum of Natural History, USA . It was recently published in the Journal of Paleontology. The newly described specimens are housed in the repository of Wadia Institute.
The finding was published in the Journal of Paleontology https://doi.org/10.1017/jpa.2022.41
Figure1. Sivatupaia ramnagarensis n. gen. n. sp., WIMF/A 4699 . 3D surface renderings of tooth in:  occlusal;  buccal;  lingual;  posterior;  anterior views.
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SNC/RR
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Ministry of Power
NHPC hosts 46th Annual General Meeting
NHPC Limited hosted its 46th Annual General Meeting  yesterday through video conferencing in Faridabad. The members of the company approved a dividend of Rs 1.81/- per equity share for the year 2021-22, which is inclusive of an interim dividend of Rs 1.31/- per equity share paid in March 2022.
Shri A.K. Singh, CMD, NHPC addressed the shareholders at the AGM wherein members of the NHPC Board including Shri Y.K. Chaubey, Director , Shri R.P. Goyal, Director , Shri Biswajit Basu, Director  and Independent Directors including Dr. Uday Sakharam Nirgudkar, Prof.  Amit Kansal, Dr. Rashmi Sharma Rawal and Shri Jiji Joseph, and Smt. Rupa Deb, Company Secretary, NHPC were also present.
Shri Singh highlighted various key achievements of NHPC. Shri Singh informed that NHPC achieved its highest ever annual Profit After Tax  of Rs.3,538 crore  in FY 2021-22 compared to Rs.3,245 crore in FY 2020-21, a 9% increase. Elaborating further on NHPC’s achievements during the financial year 2021-22, Shri Singh informed that NHPC power stations generated 24,855 MUs of electricity against the Design Energy of 23,540 MUs. NHPC power stations also recorded the highest ever Annual PAF of 88.19%. He further added that a cash contribution of Rs.1,183.05 crore was made to the Government of India’s exchequer through a dividend .
Shri Singh informed that NHPC Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding  with Investment Board Nepal, Govt. of Nepal on 18.08.2022 at Kathmandu, Nepal for the development of two hydropower projects namely West Seti  and Seti River 6 project  in Nepal. He informed that NHPC took over the 1856 MW Sawalkot HE Project from Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Ltd. on December 11, 2021. He added that NHPC has also signed a Promoters’ Agreement with Green Energy Development Corporation of Odisha Ltd.  for “Development of 500 MW Floating Solar Projects on different water bodies in Odisha”. He added that the proposed equity participation in the Joint Venture between NHPC and GEDCOL shall be in proportion to 74:26 and on completion, this project is going to be one of the largest Floating Solar projects in the world.
CMD, NHPC further said that NHPC has also signed a Letter of Intent for “Development of 10000 MW Renewable Energy Parks/ Projects in Rajasthan with Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Limited and Rajasthan Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd.” NHPC has also bagged 1000 MW capacity Solar Power Project at a Viability Gap Funding  of Rs.44.90 lakh/MW under CPSU Scheme, Phase-II, Tranche-III in the e-Reverse auction conducted by Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited .
PIB Headquarters
PIB’S BULLETIN ON COVID-19
|
|
- 184.06 cr vaccine doses have been administered so far under Nationwide Vaccination Drive
- India's Active caseload currently stands at 14,307
- Active cases stand at 0.03%
- Recovery Rate currently at 98.76%
- 1,594 recoveries in the last 24 hours increases Total Recoveries to
- 4,24,89,004
- 1,225 new cases recorded in the last 24 hours
- Daily positivity rate 
- Weekly Positivity Rate 
- 78.91 cr Total Tests conducted so far; 6,07,987 tests conducted in the last 24 hours
#Unite2FightCorona #IndiaFightsCorona
PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Ministry of Education
Historic decision by UNESCO on World Hindi Day to have Hindi descriptions on WHC  website
The permanent delegation of India to UNESCO yesterday announced that on the occassion of World Hindi Day, UNESCO's World Heritage Centre has agreed to publish Hindi descriptions of India's UNESCO World Heritage Sites on WHC website.
Union Education and Skill Development Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan via Twitter welcomed the decision. He said that Hindi is a matter of pride for every Indian and Hindi lover. The popularity of Indian languages on the global stage is welcoming and encouraging.
Prime Minister's Office
PM greets the nation on Christmas
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has conveyed his greetings to the nation on Christmas.
"Merry Christmas! The life and principles of Lord Christ gives strength to millions across the world. May his path keep showing the way in building a just and inclusive society. May everybody be happy and healthy”, the Prime Minister said .
Ministry of Science & Technology
Futuristic Budget with scientific vision and Start-Up incentives: Dr. Jitendra Singh
Briefing the media about the Budget implications for the Ministries and Departments dealt by him, Union Minister of State  Science & Technology; Minister of State  Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said that if one was to explain the General Budget 2022-23 in a single sentence, it would be appropriate to say that this is a “Futuristic Budget with scientific vision and Start-Up incentives".
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dr Jitendra Singh said, India looks forward to a crucial decade ahead, which will primarily be determined by two factors  Economy and  Science, Technology & Innovation. Keeping these critical aspects in mind, he said, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had presented an all-inclusive Budget which touches a wide spectrum of sectors ranging from rural, healthcare, agriculture, sanitation, etc.
The hallmark of the budget, said the Minister, is that nearly every announcement or initiative reflected in the budget has a strong bearing on scientific technology and innovation. In this regard, he referred to the announcement of innovative new initiatives like Digital Rupee linked with technology, Digital Banking units in 75 districts, Digital University and StartUps linked to Artificial Intelligence, Space Technology, etc.
The future roadmap for the coming years, said Dr Jitendra Singh, also reflects in some of the StartUp initiatives announced by the Finance Minister. These, for example, include exemption of tax for StartUps for another one year i.e. upto 2024, he said.
The emphasis on Drones including “Drone Shakti'' through StartUps and utilisation of Kisan Drones in the agriculture sector are bound to give India a headway over other nations of the world, said Dr Jitendra Singh.
For promotion of StartUps, the Budget provides for Export incentivisation and domestic production incentivisation, observed the Minister.
The Minister took a special note of the fact that a small Ministry like Earth Sciences has been allocated a budget of Rs. 2,653.51 crore, which is in addition to Rs. 4,000 crore allocated earlier for the Deep Sea Mission. This only indicates Prime Minister Modi’s belief that the economy of future India is going to be hugely dependent on ocean and sea resources, he said.
Similarly, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the budget allocated for Ministry of Science & Technology is Rs.6,000 crore, out of which the Department of Biotechnology gets Rs.2,581 crore and this is the Department, which has been conducting trials on DNA Vaccine earlier and now on the the Nasal Vaccine.
Dr Jitendra Singh recalled PM Narendra Modi's concern about climate change expressed in COP 20 and pointed to reference in today's budget speech to Low Carbon Development strategy. He said, the Science Ministries have been given a boost by PM Modi in carrying forward the Hydrogen Mission.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Professionalism is essential in journalism: District Collector
Payyannur: Kannur District Collector Shri. S Chandrasekhar has opined that Professionalism in journalism is essential to ensure the integrity of news especially as all citizens have started acting as journalists through the use of social media.
He was inaugurating the media workshop for local media persons organized by Press Information Bureau, Cochin in association with Press Club, Payyanur. He said that the media should follow the method of presenting facts by reducing the negativity in news and there should be an effort to spread the information on welfare schemes of both Central and State Governments.
Shri. V Palanichamy, Additional Director General, PIB Kerala Region delivered the keynote address. He said that it was important to identify fake news spreading through social media. He also pointed out that the Press Information Bureau's fact check system worked well in revealing fake news during the Covid epidemic.
Payyannur Press Club President Shri. Raghavan Kadannapalli presided over the function.
Mathrubhumi's Leader Writer Shri. K Balakrishnan spoke on the 'Scope of Development Journalism & Ethics of Journalism'.
Shri. Jayakrishnan Thayil, Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Govt. Medical College, Kozhikode spoke on 'Positive Reporting with special focus on Health Issues of Kerala'.
PIB Kochi Director  Smt. Reshmi Roja Thushara Nair explained the 'Significance and Functions of the Press Information Bureau'.
Shri. NPC Ranjith, Chief Reporter, Malayala Manorama, Kannur took a session on 'Challenges & expectations relating to Digital Journalism'.
Senior Journalists Shri. C and Balakrishnan, Shri. Jagannivas were felicitated at the function.
More than 50 journalists from various newspapers, visual, audio and online media participated in the workshop.
Kannur District Collector S Chandrasekhar inaugurating the Press Information Bureau’s Media Workshop at Payyannur.
Prime Minister's Office
PM greets LS Speaker Shri Om Birla on his birthday
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the Lok Sabha Speaker, Shri Om Birla Ji on his birthday.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister said;
"Birthday greetings to LS Speaker Shri Om Birla Ji. His impeccable knowledge on Parliamentary procedures and the manner in which he conducts proceedings are widely respected. He is making noteworthy efforts to raise Parliamentary discourse. Praying for his long life."
Prime Minister's Office
PM to Interact with SAARC leaders tomorrow
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will interact with SAARC leaders tomorrow i.e 15 March 2020 at 1700 hrs, through video conference on measures to deal with COVID-19. He will lead India at the video conference of all SAARC nations to chalk out a strong common strategy to fight COVID-19 in the region.
Ministry of Labour & Employment
Setting up of Migration Commission
NITI Aayog has constituted a sub-group to prepare a National Action Plan for Migrant Workers. The sub-group comprises the members from various Ministries of Govt. of India, subject experts, NGOs and civil society organisations, to prepare a tangible action plan to address issues related to migrant workers.
In order to safeguard the interest of the migrant workers, the Central Government had enacted the Inter-state Migrant Workmen  Act, 1979. This Act has now been subsumed in the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 and the Code has been notified on 29.09.2020. The above mentioned code, commonly known as OSH Code, provides for decent working conditions, minimum wages, grievances redressal mechanisms, protection from abuse and exploitation, enhancement of the skills and social security to all category of organised and unorganised workers including Migrant workers.
The Code is applicable to every establishment in which 10 or more inter-state migrant workers are employed or were employed on any day of the preceding 12 months.
This information was given by Minister of State  for Labour & Employment Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Railways
Railway Protection Force  conducted a month long nationwide Drive under Operation “Narcos” and Operation AAHT during January 2023
During this drive, RPF detected 88 cases and recovered NDPS valued at Rs. 4.7 crore and arrested 83 peddlers/traffickers of NDPS
RPF succeeded in rescuing 35 boys & 27 girls from the clutches of traffickers
Railway Protection Force  is entrusted with the responsibility of security of railway property, passenger area, passengers and matters connected therewith. In addition to the mandate, RPF has been entrusted with other responsibilities in the interest of national security.
Railway has been the preferred mode of trafficking of NDPS for longer distance, and therefore, Government of India, empowered RPF officers, of and above the rank of Astt. Sub-Inspector, to exercise the powers and perform the duties to conduct search, seize NDPS and arrest traffickers under the provisions of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1984 and further hand them over to the empowered law enforcing agencies.
Human Trafficking, especially of Women and Children, for sexual exploitation, prostitution, forced labour, forced marriage, domestic servitude, adoption, begging, organ transplant, drug peddling etc is an organised crime and the most abominable violation of human rights. Perhaps not many crimes are as ghastly as trading in human misery. In May 2011, Govt. of India ratified the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime  and one of its three protocols includes the protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in person, especially women and children. RPF has been working closely with other law enforcement agencies and other stake holders to identify and rescue victims of human trafficking under Operation “AAHT”.
To focus upon this, RPF conducted a month long nationwide Pan India Drive with an objective to make a dent upon the syndicate involved in smuggling of Narcotic Products through the railway network under Operation “Narcos” and Human Trafficking under Operation AAHT.
During this drive, RPF detected 88 cases and recovered NDPS valued at Rs. 4.7 crore with arrest of 83 peddlers/traffickers of NDPS and also succeeded in rescuing 35 boys & 27 girls from the clutches of traffickers with their arrest i.e. 19 traffickers who were handed over to respective LEAs for taking suitable legal action.
Railways have outsourced many of their works and services to outside agencies and contractors. This has resulted in many outsiders working/operating in railway premises and in trains. Incidents have been reported, wherein, these outsourced staff have indulged in activities which are illegal and criminal cases have been registered against them.
RPF is working in a mission mode to ensure that the credentials and criminal antecedents of all the persons engaged on contractual work in railways are verified from the concerned Police and only the persons having no criminal antecedents are allowed in the railway system. A focused initiative in this regard was taken and the contractors were directed to comply with the condition of Police Verification of their staff.
Ministry of Civil Aviation
Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia inaugurates direct flights between Kolhapur and Mumbai
Expansion of the apron of the Kolhapur airport will be commissioned next month and domestic terminal building will be inaugurated in March 2023 : Shri Scindia
433 new routes have been launched and more than one crore passengers travelled under UDAN till now
Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia along with the Minister of State Gen. Vijay Kumar Singh  inaugurated a direct flight from Kolhapur to Mumbai today.
This flight has been launched under the ambitious RCS UDAN scheme of the Ministry of Civil Aviation to provide air connectivity to tier-2 and tier -3 cities and affordable air travel for all.
The flight will operate between Kolhapur and Mumbai thrice a week- Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday as per the following schedule:
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Flt No.
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From
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To
|
|
Freq
|
|
Dep. Time
|
|
|
|
Arr. Time
|
|
Eff. from
|
|
S5 161
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|
BOM
|
|
KLH
|
|
2,4,6
|
|
1030 hrs
|
|
|
|
1125hrs
|
|
4th October 2022
|
|
S5 162
|
|
KLH
|
|
BOM
|
|
2,4,6
|
|
1150 hrs
|
|
|
|
1245hrs
|
|
4th October 2022
In his inaugural address, Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia said that the UDAN scheme is realising Prime Minister’s vision of making the air travel affordable for the common citizen of the country. So far 433 new routes have been launched and more than one crore passengers have been benefitted under this scheme. The Minister also assured that the expansion the apron of the Kolhapur airport will be commissioned in November and domestic terminal building will be inaugurated in March 2023.
MOS, Gen. Vijay Kumar Singh  congratulated the people of Kolhapur and Mumbai, and expressed hope that this flight will not only create ease of travel but also significantly boost the trade and commerce activities in the regions.
The inauguration was graced by Shri Sanjay Mandlik MP , Shri Dhairyasheel Mane, MP , Shri Dhananjay Mahadik, MP , Shri Chandrakant Patil Cabinet Minister . In addition, Smt. Usha Padhee Additional Secretary, MOCA, Mr. Sanjay Ghodawat Chairman - Star Air, Capt. Simran Singh Tiwana, CEO, Star Air and other dignitaries from the MoCA, AAI and Star Air were also present.
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
North India's first River Rejuvenation Project Devika is nearing completion, it was launched by PM Modi himself: Dr. Jitendra Singh
Dr. Jitendra Singh reviews Liquid Waste Management to protect the sanctity of holy Devika River
Union Minister of State  Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh today said, North India's first River Rejuvenation Project Devika is nearing completion. Built at a cost of over Rs 190 crore on the lines of ‘Namami Ganga’, the Project was launched by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Dr. Jitendra Singh said this while reviewing Liquid Waste Management Project undertaken separately to protect the sanctity of holy Devika River in Udhampur, J&K.
During the review meeting, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, Devika which is considered as the sister of sacred river Ganga, has a great religious significance which is why the Liquid Waste Management Project with the network of pipes and manholes connecting all the households under Devika Rejuvenation Project is being constructed by UEED to protect the sanctity of it. Out of the 190 crore funds allocated for the project, the sharing of allocation is in the ratio of 90:10 by the Centre and UT respectively, Dr. Jitendra Singh added.
Dr. Jitendra Singh also informed that besides a Liquid Waste Management Project, a Solid Waste Management Project will also be constructed under Devika Rejuvenation Project which is vital from many aspects protecting the sanctity of Devika River.
During the meeting, Dr. Jitendra Singh asserted that the role of PRIs, being the representatives of grassroots level of the society, is vital for the success of major developmental projects. The PRIs present during the meeting raised many issues with the Minister to which the Minister directed the departments to redress the issues in the shortest possible time.
The meeting was attended by DC Udhampur, Shri Sachin Kumar Vaishya, Additional DRM Northern Railways, Shri Baldev Raj, SSP Udhampur, Dr. Vinod Kumar, DDC, BDC members, Sarpanchs and Panchs.
Ministry of Women and Child Development
“Smartphone and Tablets to Anganwadi Workers”
Under POSHAN Abhiyaan, Anganwadi workers  have been technologically empowered with the provision of smartphones for efficient service delivery and monitoring. A total of 11.03 lakh Smartphones have been procured by States/UTs.
The mobile application of POSHAN Abhiyaan digitizes physical registers used by Anganwadi workers. This improves the quality of their work while simultaneously allowing them real-time monitoring. The detail of the Smartphones procured by States/UTs including the state of Rajasthan under POSHAN Abhiyaan is at Annexure I.
The Anganwadi Workers periodically measure height and weight of children upto the age of 6 years and upload in POSHAN Tracker. To promote regular growth monitoring of children up to 6 years Anganwadi Workers are being incentivised.
At present, no Committee has been constituted for the review of different kinds of benefits including honorarium provided to the staff working in Anganwadi Kendras.
Annexure I
State/UT wise status report of Smartphone procurement
|
|
Sr. NO.
|
|
State/UT
|
|
Smartphones procured
|
|
1
|
|
ANDAMAN& NICOBAR ISLANDS
|
|
795
|
|
2
|
|
ANDHRA PRADESH
|
|
61005
|
|
3
|
|
ARUNACHAL PRADESH
|
|
149
|
|
4
|
|
ASSAM
|
|
67410
|
|
5
|
|
BIHAR
|
|
121174
|
|
6
|
|
CHANDIGARH
|
|
496
|
|
7
|
|
CHHATTISGARH
|
|
29942
|
|
8
|
|
DADRA & NAGAR HAVELI and DAMAN & DIU
|
|
444
|
|
9
|
|
DELHI
|
|
11500
|
|
10
|
|
GOA
|
|
1413
|
|
11
|
|
GUJARAT
|
|
58261
|
|
12
|
|
HARYANA
|
|
0
|
|
13
|
|
HIMACHAL PRADESH
|
|
20725
|
|
14
|
|
JAMMU & KASHMIR
|
|
31174
|
|
15
|
|
JHARKHAND
|
|
12399
|
|
16
|
|
KARNATAKA
|
|
72049
|
|
17
|
|
KERALA
|
|
36435
|
|
18
|
|
LADAKH
|
|
1300
|
|
19
|
|
LAKSHADWEEP
|
|
80
|
|
20
|
|
MADHYA PRADESH
|
|
27817
|
|
21
|
|
MAHARASHTRA
|
|
120685
|
|
22
|
|
MANIPUR
|
|
2600
|
|
23
|
|
MEGHALAYA
|
|
3640
|
|
24
|
|
MIZORAM
|
|
2479
|
|
25
|
|
NAGALAND
|
|
4409
|
|
26
|
|
ODISHA
|
|
81165
|
|
27
|
|
PUDUCHERRY
|
|
939
|
|
28
|
|
PUNJAB
|
|
0
|
|
29
|
|
RAJASTHAN
|
|
22887
|
|
30
|
|
SIKKIM
|
|
1442
|
|
31
|
|
TAMIL NADU
|
|
59488
|
|
32
|
|
TELANGANA
|
|
38984
|
|
33
|
|
TRIPURA
|
|
10735
|
|
34
|
|
UTTAR PRADESH
|
|
177916
|
|
35
|
|
UTTARAKHAND
|
|
21809
|
|
36
|
|
WEST BENGAL
|
|
0
|
|
TOTAL
|
|
1103746
This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.